Beam management methods and apparatus

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus for selecting a beam mode and/or beam for communicating with one or more devices are described. The beam mode selection maybe and sometimes is between a broad beam mode of operation and a narrow beam mode of operation with respect to a particular device. Communication with one or more device may happen at a given time with the preferred beam mode and/or choice for an individual device sometimes being replaced with a beam mode and/or beam choice which is preferable from an overall system perspective, e.g., because it allows data transmission and/QoS requirements to multiple devices to be supported better than would be achieved if the preferred beam mode and/or beam selection made with respect to an individual device was used. The beam mode and/or beam selected for traffic data communication sometimes is different from the beam mode and/or beam used for communicating control channel information.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/286,451 filed on Feb. 26, 2019, which claims the benefit ofthe filing date of U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No.62/694,952 which was filed Jul. 6, 2018 and U.S. Provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 62/734,854 filed Sep. 21, 2018 each of which arehereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

The present invention relates to wireless communications methods andapparatus, and more particularly to beam management methods andapparatus in a wireless communications system supporting narrow andbroad beams.

BACKGROUND

Millimeter wavelength communications systems are beginning to bedeveloped and likely to see commercial deployment in the near future. Infact, what are sometimes described as fifth generation (5G) wirelesscommunication systems are now being developed for use in the millimeterwave (mmWave) frequency bands.

The millimeter wave spectrum at 20 GHz-300 GHz is of increasing interestto service providers and systems designers because of the widebandwidths available for carrying communications at this frequencyrange. Such wide bandwidths are valuable in supporting applications suchas high speed data transmission and video distribution. While signals atlower frequency bands can propagate for many miles and penetrate moreeasily through buildings, millimeter wave signals can usually travelonly a few miles or less and do not penetrate solid materials very well.

The propagation characteristics of millimeter wavelength communicationscan result in signal quality changing rather quickly as an UE (userequipment) device moves relative to an access point, e.g., base station,and/or an object moves between the space between a UE and access point.

The use of array antennas is sometimes suggested for use with millimeterwavelength systems. The use of an antenna array with multiple antennaelements allows for beam forming and/or beam steering techniques to beused. The use of a narrow beam for communication of data to/from a UE isoften considered desirable because the use of a narrow beam often allowsfor greater range and concentration of signal energy allowing for highdata rates to be supported. Furthermore, such narrow beams are desirableas they typically cause less interference in the system, compared towhen the same radiated power is sent in all directions. In contrast todata channels, where large amounts of user data often need to betransmitted, control channels are often used for relatively little data,but may need to be sent with high reliability.

The use of broad beams is sometimes suggested for use with controlchannels. The use of a broad beam for communicating control informationdecreases the risk that a UE will not remain in the coverage area of thebeam communicating the control information during transmission orreception of control information to an access point. Given thatrelatively little data is transmitted on control channels as compared totraffic channels, a lower coding rate and/or a higher level of errorcorrection coding can be used on the control channel to support reliabletransmission of the control information even though the information maybe received at a lower power level than might be the case if a narrowtransmission beam was used.

While use of broad beams for control channels is sometimes suggested,narrow beams are often suggested for the transmission of traffic datato/from a UE. This is because by concentrating the available transmitpower into a narrow beam, the signal is more likely to be received at ahigher power level than would be the case if the same amount of powerwas transmitted using a broad beam. The higher the received signal powerlevel, the more likely the UE will be able to recover the data withouterrors or equivalently, a higher data rate may be supportable. In manycases, use of a narrow beam and the corresponding higher received powerlevel that often results, allows for higher modulation and coding rates,e.g., 16, 32 or 256 Quadrature Amplitude Moduation (QAM) n, to be usedas compared to QPSK (4-QAM) and coding rates as high as 0.9. Sincenarrow beams often allow for high coding rates to be used, they oftenallow for more data to be transferred in a given amount of time thanwould be the case if the lower coding rates sometimes used on controlchannels with a broad beam were used.

While the higher data rates that can often be supported using a narrowbeam are often preferred, in the case of a narrow beam the quality ofthe communications channel can vary considerably from one moment in timeto another, particularly if a device is moving or if objects in theenvironment are moving. This can result in a sudden and rapiddeterioration in channel quality particularly if the UE is near the edgeof a narrow beam given the sharp falloff of such a beam. Even in caseswhere a UE is not likely to suffer deterioration in channel qualitywhile a narrow beam is used to communicate with an access point, fromthe overall system perspective using a narrow beam to communicate with aparticular UE device may be undesirable since the use of a narrow beammay preclude the possible simultaneous communication with another UEthat might be able to communicate if a broad beam were used tocommunicate user data. Furthermore, when the best narrow beam changesand the UE gets delayed in communicating the new beam information due toinherent latency in the measurement and reporting process, performancecan degrade substantially, including the possibility of a droppedconnection.

From the above it should be appreciated that there is a need for newmethods and/or apparatus which can be used to determine whether a broador narrow beam should be used to communicate with a UE or multiple UEsin the case where simultaneous communications with multiple UEs can besupported.

SUMMARY

Methods and apparatus for selecting a beam mode and/or beam forcommunicating with one or more devices are described. The beam modeselection may be, and sometimes is, between a broad beam mode ofoperation and a narrow beam mode of operation with respect to aparticular device. Communication with one or more devices may happen ata given time with the preferred beam mode and/or choice for anindividual device sometimes being replaced with a beam mode and/or beamchoice which is preferable from an overall system perspective, e.g.,because it allows data transmission and/QoS requirements to multipledevices to be supported better than would be achieved if the preferredbeam mode and/or beam selection made with respect to an individualdevice was used.

In various embodiments a first communications device receivesinformation about the channel quality of a beam which the communicationsdevice can use to communicate with another communications device. Thefirst communications device may be an access point or UE, but in manycases is an access point with an array antenna. In the presentapplication access point and base station are used interchangeably. Abase station may be implemented as gNodeB.

While not limited to being an access point, the invention will beexplained using an example where the access point is in communicationwith one or more UEs (User Equipment devices). In various embodiments,devices, e.g., UEs, which may communicate with the first communicationsdevice, e.g., access point such as a base station, provide feedbackinformation to the first communications device with regard to channelquality of one or more beams and/or other information relating to beamswhich are available for use in communicating with the firstcommunications device. For purposes of explaining the invention thefirst communications device will now be referred to as access pointwhich is exemplary of a device which may serve as the firstcommunications device.

The beam quality feedback information includes channel qualityinformation from which the access point can, and sometimes, doesdetermine a variance, e.g., change in channel quality for the beam overtime for a particular individual beam.

In various embodiments the access point determines on a per devicebasis, for one or more devices, a set of broad beams which can be usedand a set of narrow beams which can be used. The set of broad beamsidentified for a device, e.g., first UE, will normally include the bestX broad beams from the perspective of channel quality, which can be usedto communicate with the first UE. Similarly a set of Y narrow beamswhich can be used for communications with the first UE. The set of Ynarrow beams normally include the best Y narrow beams from theperspective of channel quality for communicating with the first UE. Xand Y are positive integers often, but not always, greater than one.

Sets of broad and narrow beams are identified for multiple UEs, e.g.,each UE, to which data may be transmitted or received during a timeperiod for which beam selection is being made. One or more beams may beused during each communications time period.

It should be appreciated that when multiple beams are used at the sametime, they should face in somewhat different directions to avoiddistorting the beam pattern and transmitting high power in undesireddirections.

The access point normally communicates with one or more UEs during agiven uplink or downlink time period. In accordance with some features,the access point selects the beam to be used to communicate with one ormore devices, e.g., UEs, and the devices are notified of the beamselection.

While from an individual device perspective a narrow beam may often bethe preferred beam when the beam is reliable over time in accordancewith one feature of the invention, a broad beam may be preferred whenthe channel quality associated with a narrow beam exhibits anundesirable variance, e.g., a channel variance over a first threshold,where channel variance can be in terms of changes, e.g., variance, inchannel quality or changes, e.g., variance, in the number of beam in usethat have taken place per unit time.

The access point selects the preferred beam to use to communicate with aUE based on the beam channel quality information associated with thebeam and UE. In cases of high channel quality variance a broad beam maybe preferred even though a narrow beam may provide higher data rates forvery brief periods of time. It should be appreciated that the potentialloss of channel quality and the ability to communicate user data, mayand sometimes does, outweigh the potential advantage of a higher datarates offered by use of a narrow beam particularly in cases where alarge channel variance has been detected. In such a case, a broad beamwith a lower variance in channel quality may be, and sometimes, isselected over a narrow beam with a higher quality variance.

In accordance with some embodiments, a preferred beam is selected by thecommunications device, e.g., access point, for communicating with a UEor UEs. Communication with the UE may proceed using the preferred beamselected based on the UE provided information.

However, in some, but not necessarily all, embodiments an initialpreferred beam selection for communication with a UE is reviewed andpotentially modified taking into consideration factors relating tocommunications with other UEs and potential overall communication fromthe perspective of the access point and/or a request for a particularmode of operation from a UE. For example, when a first UE has littledata to transmit or receive, a check may be made, and sometimes is made,to see if use of a broad beam rather than a narrow beam would allow fortransmission to or from a second UE in proximity to the first UE withoutdegrading communication with the first UE to an unacceptable level. Insuch a case where use of a broad beam can allow for successfulcommunication to both the first UE and a second UE, the access point mayoverride an initial narrow beam selection to select a broad beamcommunications mode and broad beam to use to communicate to the first UEand the second UE, e.g., in parallel.

While such an approach may result in the first UE receiving signals at alower power level than would be achieved if a narrow beam were used tocommunicate with the first UE, the switching to a broad beam mode andbroad beam can be desirable from an overall system perspective, sincethe total user data throughput to UEs may be greater, taking intoconsideration that data is communicated to both the first UE and thesecond UE in parallel, than would be the case if the broad beam wasused, and data was communicated with only the first UE during the samecommunications interval. Similarly, transmitting to two or more UEssimultaneously can help reduce latency for certain types of packets e.g.signaling packets or TCP acknowledgment packets etc.

While at some times a single beam maybe used to communicate with one ormore device at other times multiple beams, e.g., M beams, maybe used atthe same time to communicate with multiple devices where M is an integergreater than one.

While overall data throughput or the goal of serving multiple UEs is themain consideration in some decisions to override a narrow beampreference, in other cases satisfying QoS (Quality of Service)requirements for a particular device may be a consideration triggeringthe switch from a narrow beam to a broad beam or some other beam change.For example, if one device has a low latency communications requirementand was in proximity to another device without such latency constraints,a decision might be made to communicate with the device without lowlatency constraints using a broad beam rather than a narrow beam toallow the device with low latency data transmission constrains toreceive at least some data with relatively little latency.

In various embodiments a device, e.g., UE, can request a narrow or broadbeam mode of communications operation, e.g., based on measurementsindicating rapid changes in beam quality or rapid changes in a sortedbeam list sorted based on channel quality and/or other information theUE has available such as information about the type of data to betransmitted and/or desired communications QoS level. The access pointcan take the UE's broad or narrow beam mode request into considerationwhen making a mode and beam selection.

The access point communicates the mode and/or beam selection to the UEprior to communicating with the UE using the determined mode. As shouldbe appreciated by identifying a specific narrow and/or broad beam to beused during a given time period the base station can indicate both themode (broad or narrow) and specific beam to use in a singlecommunication without the need to split out the mode and beams intoseparate pieces of information although that is also possible.

The access point and/or UE can, and sometimes do, implement thetransmit/receive beam by setting phase shifters in a transmit and/orreceive path to specific values corresponding to the selected beam. Thevalues may be, and sometimes are, stored in what is referred to as acodebook. The values in the codebook are accessed based on the selectedmode/beam information and used to control the phase shifters in thetransmit and/or receive path to implement the desired beam.

While features used in some but not all embodiments have been describedin terms of altering an initial preferred narrow beam selection to abroad beam mode of operation and broad beam selection, the methods canbe used to choose a different narrow beam than the beam initiallyselected as a preferred beam when a narrow mode of communication is tobe used and/or selecting a beam other than the beam with the bestchannel quality to a device when a broad beam mode of operation isdetermined to be used. From the perspective of an individual device thismay sometimes appear as a suboptimal selection of a beam mode and/orbeam from an overall system throughput or QoS perspective it can bedesirable since the needs of multiple devices may be satisfied by theswitch in beam mode and/or beam selection.

In some but not all embodiments, the beam selection techniques used fordata traffic, e.g., selection of beams for communication of voice data,user application data such as gaming or other applications, and/or othertraffic data are different form the beam and/or mode selectiontechniques used for selecting the beams and modes used for controlchannels used to communicate with a device, e.g., UE. Thus in at leastsome embodiments the beam mode and/or beam selected for communicatingcontrol information to or from a UE is different from the beam modeand/or beam selected for communicating traffic data to/from a UE.

An exemplary method of operating a first communications device, inaccordance with some embodiments, comprises: receiving, from a secondcommunications device, signal quality information for a first period oftime corresponding to beams transmitted by the first communicationsdevice; identifying a set of X broad beams having the best reportedquality, said set of X beams including one or more broad beams;identifying a set of Y narrow beams having the best reported quality,said set of Y beams including one or more narrow beams; determining afirst quality variance for the best Y beam for the first period of time;and determining a preferred beam mode based on at least the firstquality variance, said preferred beam mode being one of a broad beammode or a narrow beam mode.

An exemplary first communications device, in accordance with someembodiments, comprises: an antenna array including antenna elements;receiver circuitry coupled to said antenna elements, said receivercircuitry being configured to receive, signal quality information from asecond communications device, for a first period of time correspondingto beams transmitted by the first communications device; a processorconfigured to: i) identify a set of X broad beams having the bestreported quality, said set of X beams including one or more broad beams;ii) identify a set of Y narrow beams having the best reported quality,said set of Y beams including one or more narrow beams; iii) determine afirst quality variance for the best Y beam for the first period of time;and iv) determine a preferred beam mode based on at least the firstquality variance, said preferred beam mode being one of a broad beammode or a narrow beam mode; and transmitter circuitry coupled to saidantenna elements, said transmitter circuitry configured to transmitinformation indicating the preferred beam mode and beam to the secondcommunications device.

While various features and methods have been described, all embodimentsneed not include all features or steps mentioned in the summary.Numerous additional features and embodiments are discussed in thedetailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a drawing of an exemplary multi-element antenna array inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a drawing of another exemplary multi-element antenna array inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating array gain curves for exemplary beamsin accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications device,e.g., an exemplary access point/base station, in accordance with anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications system inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating an example corresponding to system ofFIG. 5, in which narrow beam 1 (NB1) is the preferred narrow beam for UE1 based on reported beam quality information.

FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating an example corresponding to system ofFIG. 5, in which broad beam 1 (BB1) is the preferred broad beam for UE 1based on reported beam quality information.

FIG. 8 is a drawing illustrating an example corresponding to system ofFIG. 5, in which broad beam 1 (BB2) is an acceptable broad beam for UE 1and UE 2, based on reported beam quality information.

FIG. 9 is a drawing illustrating an example corresponding to system ofFIG. 5, in which broad beam 1 (BB1) is the preferred broad beam for UE 1and broad beam 1 is an acceptable beam for UE 2, based on reported beamquality information.

FIG. 10 is a drawing illustrating an example corresponding to system ofFIG. 5, in which broad beam 2 (BB2) is an acceptable beam for UE 1 andUE2, and NB2 is the preferred narrow beam for UE 3, based on reportedbeam quality information.

FIG. 11 is flowchart of a main routine an exemplary method of operatinga wireless communication device, e.g., an access point/base station, inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an exemplary preferred beam mode and beamselection subroutine in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, saidpreferred beam mode and beam selection subroutine may be, and sometimesis, called by the main routine of the flowchart of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an exemplary preferred beam mode and beammodification subroutine in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, saidpreferred beam mode and beam modification subroutine may be, andsometimes is, called by the main routine of the flowchart of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14A is a first part of a flowchart of an exemplary method ofoperating a first communications device, e.g., an access point/basestation, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 14B is a second part of a flowchart of an exemplary method ofoperating a first communications device, e.g., an access point/basestation, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 14C is a third part of a flowchart of an exemplary method ofoperating a first communications device, e.g., an access point/basestation, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 14, comprises the combination of FIG. 14A, FIG. 14B and FIG. 14C.

FIG. 15A is a first part of an exemplary assembly of components, whichmay be included in a wireless communications device, in accordance withan exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 15B is a second part of an exemplary assembly of components, whichmay be included in a wireless communications device, in accordance withan exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 15C is a third part of an exemplary assembly of components, whichmay be included in a wireless communications device, in accordance withan exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 15, comprises the combination of FIG. 15A, FIG. 15B and FIG. 15C.

FIG. 16A is a first part of a drawing of exemplary data/information,which may be included in a wireless communications device in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 16B is a second part of a drawing ofexemplary data/information, which may be included in a wirelesscommunications device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 16 comprises the combination of FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B.

FIG. 17 is a drawing illustrating an example in which wirelesscommunications device implemented in accordance with various features ofthe present invention, e.g., an access point, supporting beam formingmanagement in accordance with the present invention and including amulti-element antenna array, is in transmit mode and is transmittingtraffic data on a selected broad beam to two UEs and is transmittingtraffic data to a third UE on a selected narrow beam.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a drawing of an exemplary multi-element antenna array 100 inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment. Exemplary multi-element antennaarray 100 includes 100 antenna elements 102. Multi-element antenna array100 may be used by a communications device, e.g., a base station,supporting beam forming, with different phase shifts being applied tocomponent signals of a beam communicated via different elements of theantenna array. In some embodiments, multi-element antenna array 100 canbe, and sometimes is used to transmit a plurality of beams concurrently,e.g., up to M beams. In some embodiments, multi-element antenna array100 can be, and sometimes is used to receive a plurality of beamsconcurrently, e.g., up to M beams. Beams communicated via antenna array100 include, e.g., a set of narrow beams and a set of wide beams.

FIG. 2 is a drawing of another exemplary multi-element antenna array 200in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Exemplary multi-elementantenna array 200 includes 25 antenna elements 202. Multi-elementantenna array 200 may be used by a communications device, e.g., a basestation, supporting beam forming, with different phase shifts beingapplied to component signals of a beam communicated via differentelements of the antenna array. In some embodiments, multi-elementantenna array 200 can be, and sometimes is, used to transmit a pluralityof beams concurrently, e.g., up to M beams. In some embodiments,multi-element antenna array 200 can be, and sometimes is used to receivea plurality of beams concurrently, e.g., up to M beams. Beamscommunicated via antenna array 200 include, e.g., a set of narrow beamsand a set of wide beams.

FIG. 3 is a drawing 300 illustrating array gain curves for exemplarybeams in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Horizontal axis 302represents angle in degrees relative to boresight and shows a range of−60 degrees to +60 degrees. Vertical axis 304 represents array gain indB. Curve 306 is a gain curve for an exemplary narrow beam centered at 0degrees relative to boresight. The narrow beam of curve 306 has a halfpower beam (HPBW) 308 which corresponds to approximately 17.5 degrees,as indicated by box 309. Curve 310 is a gain curve for an exemplarybroad beam centered at 0 degrees relative to boresight. The broad beamof curve 310 has a half power beam (HPBW) 312 which corresponds toapproximately 56 degrees, as indicated by box 313. Given the sharp falloff of the narrow beam it should be appreciated that the channelconditions of a moving device in a narrow beam can change dramaticallywith relatively little change in device position. The wider beam offersthe possibility of a more stable channel quality when the beam is usedover a wider area but with the received power potentially being lowerthan when a narrow beam is used.

FIG. 4 is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications device 400,e.g., an access point/base station, in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment. Wireless communications device 400 is, e.g., a 5G New Radio(NR) gNB, a 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) eNB, or a WiFi access point.Wireless communications device 400 includes a processor 402, a memory404, an assembly of hardware components 466, e.g., circuits, amulti-element antenna array 406, an input/output (I/O) component 426, amodem 424 for digital baseband processing, a digital filtering andup/down sampling component 420, a digital (analog) to analog (digital)conversion component 418, a mixer 416, which may optionally include anIF stage, power setting gain stages component 414, splitter/combinercomponent 412 and a plurality of antenna element interface (antennaelement 1 interface 408, . . . , antenna element N interface 408′),coupled together as shown in FIG. 4. Antenna array 406 includes Nantenna elements (antenna element E1 452, . . . , antenna element EN454). Each antenna element (E1 452, . . . , EN 454) is coupled to acorresponding antenna element interface (antenna element interface 1408, . . . , antenna element interface N 408′), respectively. In someembodiments, antenna array 406 is multi-element antenna array 100 ofFIG. 1, and N is 100. In some embodiments, antenna array 406 ismulti-element antenna array 100 of FIG. 2, and N is 25.

Memory 404 includes a beam mode and beam selector module 428,data/information 470 including beam information 430, a phase shiftercontrol codebook 436, control routine 438, upper layer software and apps440, and an assembly of software components 464. In some embodiments,the phase shifter control codebook 436 includes a narrow beam codebookand a broad beam codebook. Based on a selected beam mode, e.g., one ornarrow beam mode and broad beam mode, and a selected beam, e.g.,information identifying a particular beam, received from beam mode andbeam selector module 428, the phase shifter control codebook 436, looksup and determines a set of phase shifts to be applied to a set of phaseshifter elements. Wireless communications device 400 is implemented tosupport a set of up to M concurrent beams. The set of M concurrent beamsmay include a mixture of narrow beams and broad beams, only narrow beamsor only broad beams, e.g., depending upon the determined conditions andreported information from the UE's. The access point may include onesuch antenna panel or several of them. When more than one antenna panelis included, M beams dedicated to a single panel may be possible. Mbeams split across panels may also be possible. In such instancesswitching circuitry between the M beams and the panels can be used asneeded.

Beam information 430 includes beam information corresponding to aplurality of devices, e.g., a plurality of UE devices, (UE device 1 beaminformation 432, . . . , UE device Z beam information 434. Each set ofUE device beam information, e.g., device 1 beam information, includes,e.g., received UE reported beam quality information corresponding todetected beams, an identified ordered set of best narrow beams, anidentified ordered set of best broad beams, determined beam qualityvariance information, determined beam quality indicator values, e.g.,determined mean beam quality values, a determined preferred beam mode,e.g., one of narrow beam mode and broad beam mode, a determinedpreferred beam, e.g., information indicating a beam ID value for thedetermined preferred beam, a final determined preferred beam modefollowing potential modification considerations, and a final determinedpreferred beam following potential modification considerations, andtraffic data to be communicated to the UE on the final determinedpreferred beam.

Phase shifter control codebook 436 outputs control signals (CPS11 456, .. . , CPS1N 458), which communicate individual phase shifts to beapplied by phase shift devices (phase shifter 448, . . . , phase shifter448′) which are used to form beam 1. Selected beam 1 can be any one ofthe narrow beams or broad beams supported by codebook 436. Similarly,phase shifter control codebook 436 outputs control signals (CPS1M 460, .. . , CPSNM 462), which communicate individual phase shifts to beapplied by phase shift devices (phase shifter 450, . . . , phase shifter450′) which are used to form beam M. Selected beam M can be any one ofthe narrow beams or broad beams supported by codebook 436, selected beamM being a different selected beam than selected beam 1.

Antennal element 1 interface 408 includes M phase shifters (phaseshifter 1 448, . . . , phase shifter M 450), Transmit/Receive (T/R)switch 1 446, low noise amplifier (LNA) 442, and PA 444 coupled togetheras shown in FIG. 4. Antennal element N interface 408′ includes M phaseshifters (phase shifter 1 448′, . . . , phase shifter M 450′),Transmit/Receive (T/R) switch N 446′, LNA 442′, and PA 444′ coupledtogether as shown in FIG. 4.

Phase shifter 448 applies the phase shift of signal CPS11 456. Phaseshifter 450 applies the phase shift of signal CPS1M 460. T/R switch 1446 switches between transmit and receive based on TRC signal 455 fromprocessor 402. When TRC signal 455 indicates receive, the wiper arm ofthe switch 446 connects to the output of LNA 442. When TRC signal 455indicates transmit, the wiper arm of the switch 446 connects to theinput of power amplifier (PA) 442. In the receive mode, a receive signalreceived via antenna element E1 452 is input to LNA 442, passes throughswitch 1 446, is input to phase shifters (448, . . . , 450), is phaseshifted by the phase shifters (448, . . . , 450), and each of theoutputs from the phase shifters (448, . . . 450), which are received(beam 1, . . . , beam M components), respectively, is input to thecombiner of splitter/combiner component 412. In the transmit mode, abeam 1 transmit signal is input to phase shifter 448, phase shifted byphase shifter 448, in accordance with the value indicated by controlsignal CPS11 456, and the phase shifted transmit signal in input to T/Rswitch 1 446; and a beam M transmit signal is input to phase shifter450, phase shifted by phase shifter 450, in accordance with the valueindicated by control signal CPS1M 460, and the phase shifted transmitsignal is input to T/R switch 1 446. In transmit mode, T/R switch 1 446performs a combining operation and couples the combined signal to theinput of PA 444. In transmit mode, the output of T/R switch 1 446, whichis the combined output from phase shifter 448, which is a beam 1component transmit signal, and phase shifter 450, which is a beam Mcomponent transmit signal, is input to power amp (PA) 444 and sent toantenna element E1 452, for transmission.

Phase shifter 448′ applies the phase shift of signal CPSN1 458. Phaseshifter 450′ applies the phase shift of signal CPSNM 462. T/R switch N446′ switches between transmit and receive based on TRC signal 455 fromprocessor 402. When TRC signal 455 indicates receive, the wiper arm ofthe switch 446′ connects to the output of LNA 442′. When TRC signal 455indicates transmit, the wiper arm of the switch 446′ connects to theinput of PA 442′. In the receive mode, a receive signal received viaantenna element EN 454 is input to LNA 442′, passes through switch N446′, is input to phase shifters (448′, . . . , 450′), is phase shiftedby the phase shifters (448′, . . . , 450′), and each of the outputs fromthe phase shifters (448′, . . . 450′), which are received (beam 1, . . ., beam M components), respectively, is input to the combiner ofsplitter/combiner component 412. In the transmit mode, a beam 1 transmitsignal is input to phase shifter 448′, phase shifted by phase shifter448′, in accordance with the value indicated by control signal CPSN1458, and the phase shifted transmit signal in input to T/R switch N446′; and a beam M transmit signal is input to phase shifter 450′, phaseshifted by phase shifter 450′, in accordance with the value indicated bycontrol signal CPSNM 462, and the phase shifted transmit signal is inputto T/R switch N 446′. In transmit mode, T/R switch 1 446′ performs acombining operation and couples the combined signal to the input of PA444′. In transmit mode, the output of T/R switch N 446′, which is thecombined output from phase shifter 448′, which is a beam 1 componenttransmit signal, and phase shifter 450′, which is a beam M componenttransmit signal, is input to power amp (PA) 444′ and sent to antennaelement EN 454, for transmission. M beams may be and sometimes are usedin parallel, e.g., to transmit or receive at a given time from Mdifferent UEs.

Processor 402 generates control signal TRC 455 for controlling whetherdevice 400 is operating as a transmitter or receiver at a particularpoint in time. When TRC signal 455 indicates receive, the T/R switches(T/R switch 1 446, . . . , T/R switch N 446′) connect their wiper armsto the outputs of the LNAs (LNA 442, . . . , LNA 442′), respectively,splitter/combiner component 412 acts as a combiner, power gain stagescomponent 414 is set use components with gains to process receivedsignals, mixer 416 is set to recover signals, e.g., recovering a analogbaseband signal from an RF signal, the analog to digital converters ofcomponent 418 are controlled to be used, digital filters and the downsamplers of component 420 are controlled to be used, and component 424is controlled to recover data/information from digital baseband signals.Recovered data/information includes information communicated on up to Mdifferent beams.

When TRC signal 455 indicates transmit, component 424 is controlled togenerate digital baseband signals from data/information, digital filtersand the up samplers of component 420 are controlled to be used, thedigital to analog converters of component 418 are controlled to be used,mixer 416 is set to mix input analog signals, e.g., basebandlowerfrequency analog signals, with higher frequency signals, whichoptionally includes an intermediate frequency signal, to generate outputRF signals to be transmitted from baseband analog signal, power gainstages component 414 is set to use components with gains to generatetransmit signals, splitter/combiner component 412 acts as a splitter,and T/R switches (T/R switch 1 446, . . . , T/R switch N 446′) connecttheir wiper arms to the inputs of the PAs (PA 444, . . . , PA 444′),respectively. Transmitted data/information includes informationcommunicated on up to M different beams, with transmission componentsfor each transmitted beam being transmitted over different antennaelements (E1 452, . . . , EN 454.)

Beam mode and beam selector 428 sends signal 405 to phase shiftercontrol codebook 436 identifying one or more beams to be transmitted orreceived. The identified one or more beams may be all narrow beams, allbroad beams, or a mixture of some narrow beams and some broad beams. Inthis exemplary embodiment, device 400 can form M beams concurrently. Foreach requested beam, the phase shifter control codebook 436 retrieves aset of N phase shift values to be used in N phase shifters correspondingto the N elements of the antenna array, and generates N control signals.For example, corresponding to requested beam 1, which may be a narrowbeam or a broad beam, phase shifter control codebook 436 generatescontrol signals (CPS11 456, . . . CPS1N 458), which are sent to phaseshifters (448, . . . , 448′), respectively. Continuing with the example,corresponding to requested beam M, which may be a narrow beam or a broadbeam, phase shifter control codebook 436 generates control signals(CPS1M 460, . . . CPSNM 462), which are sent to phase shifters (450, . .. , 450′), respectively.

Modem 424 includes M digital baseband processing receive circuits and Mdigital baseband processing transmit circuits. Digital filtering andup/down sampling component 420 includes M up sampling circuits coupledto M digital filters, and M down sampling circuits coupled to digitalfilters. Digital (analog) to analog (digital) conversion component 418includes M digital to analog converters and M analog to digitalconverters. Mixer component 416 includes M mixers for receive processingand M mixers for transmit processing. Power setting gain stagescomponent 414 includes M receive power components and M transmit powercomponents. While circuitry for a TDD (Time Division Duplexing)embodiment is shown, it should be readily appreciated that the methodsand apparatus can also be used with FDD (Frequency Division Duplexing)embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications system 500in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Wireless communicationssystem 500 includes an access point (AP) 502, e.g., a base station,including a multi-element antenna array and supporting beam forming inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment. In some embodiments, accesspoint 502 is implemented in accordance with wireless communicationsdevice 400, e.g. AP 400, of FIG. 4. AP 502 is implemented in accordancewith features of the present invention, can form both narrow and broadbeams, supports multiple, e.g., M concurrent beams, and implements beammanagement in accordance with the present invention. The exemplaryaccess point 502 has a wireless coverage area 504. Communications system500 further includes a plurality of wireless terminals including userequipment device 1 (UE 1) 506, UE 2 508 and UE 3 510. UE 1 506, UE 2 508and UE 3 510 are mobile devices. The UE devices (506, 508, 510 detectand measure signals, e.g., reference signals, transmitted on beams fromAP 502, e.g., as part of a beam sweep used to evaluate beams, and reportback beam quality information to AP 502. AP 502 processes the reportedbeam quality information from the UEs and determines a preferred beammode and a preferred beam for each UE, based on the beam qualityinformation from the UE. In some embodiments, the AP 502 furthermodifies beam selection corresponding to the UEs based on coverage areasof detected broad beams corresponding to multiple UEs, amounts of datato be communicated to UEs, and/or UE traffic requirements. The AP 502transmits traffic data to a UE using the final selected beam for the UE.

FIG. 6 is a drawing 600 illustrating an example corresponding to system500 of FIG. 5. UE 1 506 is located in coverage area 504 such that narrowbeam 1 602 is the preferred (best) narrow beam for UE 1 506 forcommunications with AP 502. UE 2 508 and UE 3 510 are outside thecoverage area for narrow beam 1, and therefore UE 2 508 and UE 3 510cannot use narrow beam 1 for communications with AP 502.

FIG. 7 is a drawing 700 illustrating an example corresponding to system500 of FIG. 5. UE 1 506 is located in coverage area 504 such that broadbeam 1 702 is the preferred (best) broad beam for UE 1 506 forcommunications with AP 502. UE 2 508 is on the boundary of the coveragearea for broad beam 1, and therefore broad beam 1 is not very good forcommunications between UE 2 508 with AP 502. UE 3 510 is outside thecoverage area for broad beam 1, and therefore UE 3 510 cannot use broadbeam 1 for communications with AP 502.

FIG. 8 is a drawing 800 illustrating an example corresponding to system500 of FIG. 5. UE 1 506 is located in coverage area 504 such that broadbeam 2 702 is an acceptable broad beam for UE 1 506 for communicationswith AP 502. UE 2 508 is located in coverage area 504 such that broadbeam 2 702 is an acceptable broad beam for UE 2 508 for communicationswith AP 502. UE 3 510 is outside the coverage area for broad beam 1, andtherefore UE 3 510 cannot use broad beam 2 for communications with AP502. In some embodiments, if two UEs, e.g., UE 1 506 and UE 2 508 arerelatively close together a broad beam such as BB2 802 is used totransmit to the two UEs instead of two different narrow beams, e.g.,because the side lobes of two very close narrow beams would interferewith one another. Multi-beam can be considered a special case of onebroad beam formed by two narrow beams being used at the same time. Thisallows multiplexing more than one user in the freq domain when the usersare separated in angular space by using multiple beams directed indifferent directions to cover an area which maybe relatively spread outspatially.

FIG. 9 is a drawing 900 illustrating an example corresponding to system500 of FIG. 5. UE 1 506 is located in coverage area 504 such that broadbeam 1 702 is the preferred (best) broad beam for UE 1 506 forcommunications with AP 502. UE 2 508 is within the coverage area forbroad beam 1 702, and therefore broad beam 1 702 is acceptable forcommunications between UE 2 508 with AP 502. UE 3 510 is outside thecoverage area for broad beam 1 702, and therefore UE 3 510 cannot usebroad beam 1 for communications with AP 502.

FIG. 10 is a drawing 1000 illustrating an example corresponding tosystem 500 of FIG. 5. UE 1 506 is located in coverage area 504 such thatbroad beam 2 702 is an acceptable broad beam for UE 1 506 forcommunications with AP 502. UE 2 508 is located in coverage area 504such that broad beam 2 702 is an acceptable broad beam for UE 2 508 forcommunications with AP 502. UE 3 510 is located in coverage area 504such that narrow beam 4 1002 is the preferred (best) narrow beam for UE3 510.

FIG. 11 is flowchart 1100 of a main routine an exemplary method ofoperating a wireless communication device, e.g., an access point/basestation, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The communicationdevice implementing the method of flowchart 1100 is, e.g.,communications device 400 of FIG. 4, e.g., an access point/base station,which may be the access point/base station 502 of FIGS. 5-10.

Operation of the exemplary method starts in step 1102, in which the basestation is powered on and initialized. Operation proceeds from step 1102to step 1104. In step 1104, the base station sweeps a set of candidateset of transmit beams. In various embodiments, the candidate set oftransmit beams includes both narrow beams and broad beams. Operationproceeds from step 1104 to step 1106. Steps 1106, 1108, 1110, 1112, 1114and 1116 are performed for each user equipment device which is reportingto the base station in response to the transmitted set of candidatebeams.

In step 1106 the base station receives feedback about beam quality,e.g., reference signal received power (RSRP), reference signal receivedquality (RSRQ) and/or channel quality indicator (CQI) informationcorresponding to one or more of the candidate beams which were detectedby the UE, e.g., beam quality information (time T0 beam qualityinformation 1203, . . . , time Tn beam quality information 1203′). Beamquality information 1203 includes RSRP beam information 12031, RSRQ beamquality information 12032 and CQI beam quality information 12033. Invarious embodiments, the received beam quality information correspondingto a plurality of beams including both narrow beams and broad beams.Operation proceeds from step 1106 to step 1108 in which the base stationidentifies a set of X broad beams. Operation proceeds from step 1108 tostep 1110, in which the base station identifies a set of Y narrow beams.In some embodiments, operation proceeds from step 1110 to optional step1112, while in other embodiments, operation proceeds from step 1110 tostep 1114. In step 1112 the base station processes the received feedbackfrom the UE device, e.g. time average beam/quality information on a perbeam basis. Operation proceeds from step 1112 to step 1114.

In step 1114 the base station's main routine calls the preferred beammode and beam selection subroutine which determines a preferred beammode and a selected beam for the UE. In some embodiments the preferredbeam mode and beam selection subroutine is implemented by the method offlowchart 1200 of FIG. 12.

Operation of the preferred beam mode and beam selection subroutinestarts in step 1202, e.g., in response to the call of step 1114, andproceeds to step 1204. In step 1204 the base station computes thequality variance of the best beam in the set of Y narrow beams, e.g.,using beam quality information (time T0 beam quality information 1203, .. . , time Tn beam quality information 1203′). In some the computedquality variance for the best Y beam is for a time period of 5milliseconds or less. In some such embodiments the computed qualityvariance for the best Y beam is for a time period of 1 millisecond orless. Operation proceeds from step 1204 to step 1206. In step 1206 thebase station determines if the quality variance of the best beam in theset of Y narrow beams is greater than threshold_1. If the determinationis that the variance is not greater than threshold_1, then operationproceeds from step 1206 to step 1216, in which the base station sets thepreferred beam mode to narrow beam mode and selects the best beam in theset of Y narrow beams as the selected beam for the UE. However, in step1206 if the determination is that the variance is greater thanthreshold_1, then operation proceeds from step 1206 to step 1208.

In step 1208 the base station computes the difference in the meanquality of the best beam in the set of Y narrow beams and mean qualityof the best beam in the set of X broad beams. Operation proceeds fromstep 1208 to step 1210.

In step 1210 the base station determines if the difference in the meanquality is less than threshold_2. If the difference is not less thanthreshold_2, then operation proceeds from steps 1210 to step 1216, inwhich the base station sets the preferred beam mode to narrow beam modeand selects the best beam in the set of Y narrow beams as the selectedbeam for the UE. However, in step 1210 if the determination is that thedifference is less than threshold_2, then operation proceeds from step1210 to step 1212.

In step 1212 the base station computes the quality variance of the bestbeam in the set of X broad beams. In some embodiments the computedquality variance for the best X broad beam is for a time period of 5milliseconds or less. In some such embodiments the computed qualityvariance for the best X broad beam is for a time period of 1 millisecondor less but this is only exemplary and not used in all embodiments.Operation proceeds from step 1212 to step 1214. In step 1214 the basestation determines if the quality variance of the best beam in the setof X broad beams is less than threshold_3. If the determination is thatthe variance is not less than threshold_3, then operation proceeds fromstep 1214 to step 1216, in which the base station sets the preferredbeam mode to narrow beam mode and selects the best beam in the set of Ynarrow beams as the selected beam for the UE. However, in step 1214 ifthe determination is that the variance is less than threshold_3, thenoperation proceeds from step 1214 to step 1218, in which the basestation sets the preferred beam mode to broad beam mode and selects thebest beam in the set of X broad beams as the selected beam for the UE.

Operation proceeds from step 1216 or step 1218 to step 1220. In step1220 the subroutine returns the determined preferred beam mode and theselected beam for the UE to the main routine. Operation proceeds fromstep 1220 to subroutine end step 1222.

Returning to step 1114 in the main routine, operation proceeds from step1114 to step 1116. In step 1116 the base station sets the individualdevice preferred beam mode and the beam to the selected beam mode andbeam, which was returned from the preferred beam mode and beam selectionsubroutine. Operation proceeds from step 1116 to step 1118.

In step 1118 the base station determines if there are any remainingdevices to process. If the determination is that there are additionaldevices to process, then operation proceeds from step 1118, to step1104. However, if the determination of step 1118 is that there are noadditional devices to process, then operation proceeds from step 1118,to optional step 1120 or to step 1122.

In optional step 1120, the main routine calls a preferred beam mode andbeam decision modification subroutine. In some embodiments the preferredbeam mode and beam modification subroutine is implemented by the methodof flowchart 1300 of FIG. 13.

Operation of the preferred beam mode and beam modification subroutinestarts in step 1302 in response to the call of step 1120. Operationproceeds from start step 1302 to step 1304. In step 1304 the basestation accesses the initial beam decisions made of the UE devices,e.g., accesses exemplary initial beam decisions for devices information1301, which was stored in multiple iterations of step 1116, oneiteration of step 1116 for each UE. Initial beam decisions for devicesinformation 1301 includes, e.g., for each of the UEs an initiallydetermined preferred beam mode and information indicating acorresponding selected beam. Operation proceeds from step 1304 to step1306, in which processing starts for a first UE device.

In step 1306, the base station determines if there is another device inproximity to a device to which a transmission is to be made. If there isnot another device in proximity to a device to which a transmission isto be made, then operation proceeds from step 1306 to step 1314;otherwise, operation proceeds from step 1306 to step 1308.

In step 1308 the base station determines, using latency informationincluded in additional data records 1303, if the device has tightlatency requirements for its traffic. If the determination is that thedevice does not have tight latency requirements for its traffic, thenoperation proceeds from step 1308 to step 1310; otherwise operationproceeds from step 1308 to step 1312.

In step 1310 the base station determines, using buffered datainformation included in additional data records 1303, if there aredevices that have short packets that can potentially be sent withtraffic for other devices. If the determination of step 1310 is thatthere are not devices that have short packets that can potentially besent with traffic for other devices, then operation proceeds from step1310 to step 1314; otherwise, operation proceeds from step 1310 to step1312.

In step 1312 the base station determines if using broad beam mode fortransmission to multiple devices results in acceptable link quality forthe combined set of devices. Operation proceeds from step 1312 to step1314. In step 1314 the base station updates beam decisions for acombined set of devices if broad beam mode provides acceptable quality.Operation proceeds from step 1314 to step 1316.

In step 1316 the base station determines if processing is done with alldevices. If the determination of step 1316 is that the processing is notdone with all devices, then operation proceeds from step 1316 to step1306; Step 1316 may be and sometimes is part of a base stationprocessing loop that involves processing relating to a sorted list ofdevices to be scheduled. The sorting may be on the basis of schedulingpriorities, typically considered by base station schedulers. Ifoperation does not proceed from step 1316 to step 1306 processingproceeds from step 1316 to step 1318. In step 1318 the preferred beammode and beam modification subroutine returns the updated information tothe main routine. Operation proceeds from step 1318 to subroutine endstep 1320.

Returning to step 1120 in the main routine in step 1120 the main routinereceives and stores updated beam mode information and updated beamselection information. Operation proceeds from step 1120 to step 1122.In step 1122 the base station selects one or more devices, e.g. one ormore UEs, to transmit to. For example, during some periods of time thebase station selects a single device to transmit to, or receive from,using a single beam. During other periods of time the base stationselects two or more devices to transmit to using a single beam. In stillother periods of time the base station selects multiple devices totransmit to, or receive from, using multiple beams. When multipledevices are being transmitted to, the preferred beam selected for eachof the different devices selected for communication during a given timeperiod maybe used assuming the beams are distinct from one another. Thebeams which are used maybe narrow beams, broad beams or a combination ofbroad and narrow beams. For example FIG. 10 shows an example where abroad beam 802 and a narrow beam 1002 are used at the same time with thebroad beam being used to communicate to/from multiple UE device and thenarrow beam 1002 being used to communicate with a single UE 510.Operation proceeds from step 1122 to step 1124. In step 1124 the basestation transmits notification to devices, e.g., UEs, about respectivefinal selected beam modes and/or beams. Transmission is optional in someembodiments. Sometimes if the UE has old information on which beam wasselected and that does not require an update because it is unchanged,the base station may not transmit beam notification, although it willstill normally send a scheduling notification even if a beamnotification is not being sent. Operation proceeds from step 1124 tostep 1126.

In step 1126 the base station configures control values, e.g., phaseshifts, on the transmitter array to form the determined beam or beams.Operation proceeds from step 1126 to step 1128.

In step 1128 the base station transmits in accordance with thedetermined beam or beams. Operation proceeds from step 1128, viaconnecting node A 1130 to step 1104.

FIG. 14, comprising the combination of FIG. 14A, FIG. 14B and FIG. 14Cis a flowchart 1400 of an exemplary method of operating a firstcommunications device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.Operation starts in step 1402 in which the first communications device,e.g., an access point (AP) such as wireless communications device 400 ofFIG. 4 or AP 502 of FIGS. 5-10, is powered on and initialized andproceeds to step 1404.

In step 1404 the first communications devices receives, from a secondcommunications device, e.g., a wireless terminal such as UE 1 506 ofFIGS. 5-10, signal quality information for a first period of timecorresponding to beams transmitted by the first communications device.Operation proceeds from step 1404 to step 1406.

In step 1406 the first communications device identifies a set of X broadbeams having the best reported quality, said set of X broad beamsincluding one or more broad beams. Operation proceeds from step 1406 tostep 1408.

In step 1408 the first communications device identifies a set of Ynarrow beams having the best reported quality, said set of Y narrowbeams including one or more narrow beams. Operation proceeds from step1408 to step 1410.

In step 1410 the first communications device determines a variance foreach narrow beam in the set of Y narrow beams for the first period oftime. Step 1410 includes step 1412 in which the first communicationsdevice determines a first quality variance for the best Y narrow beamsfor the first period of time. In some embodiments, the first qualityvariance is for a time period of 5 milli-seconds or less. In some suchembodiments, the first quality variance is for a time period of 1milli-second or less. This is exemplary and in not intended to belimiting of other embodiments. In some embodiments, in millimeterwavelength communications there may be, and sometimes are, 8transmission slots per millisecond. Operation proceeds from step 1410 tostep 1414.

In step 1414 the first communications device determines a variance foreach broad beam in the set of X broad beams for the first period oftime. Step 1414 includes step 1416 in which the first communicationsdevice determines a quality variance for the best X broad beam for thefirst period of time. In some embodiments, the second quality varianceis for a time period of 5 milli-seconds or less. In some suchembodiments, the second quality variance is for a time period of 1milli-second or less. Operation proceeds via connecting node A 1418 fromstep 1414 to step 1419.

In step 1419 the first communications device determines a preferred beammode based on at least the first quality variance, said preferred beammode being one of a broad beam mode or a narrow beam mode. Step 1419includes steps 1420, 1422 and 1424. In step 1420 the firstcommunications device determines if the first quality variance (best Ynarrow beam quality variance) is greater than a first threshold. If thedetermination of step 1420 is that the first quality threshold is notgreater than the first threshold, then operation proceeds from step 1420to step 1422, in which the first communications device sets thepreferred beam mode to narrow beam mode. Thus, if the variance of thebest Y narrow beam is small, the best Y narrow beam is consideredreliable and thus will be used, if the preferred beam decision is notlater overruled, to support simultaneous (fdm) transmissions to multipledevices. However, if the determination of step 1420 is that the firstquality threshold is greater than the first threshold, then operationproceeds from step 1420 to step 1424.

In step 1424 the first communications device determines the preferredbeam mode based on: i) a first quality indicator value for the best beamin said set of Y narrow beams, said first quality indicator value beinggenerated from multiple reported signal quality values corresponding tothe best Y beam included in said received signal quality information;and ii) a second quality indicator value for the best beam in said setof X broad beams, said second quality indicator value being generatedfrom multiple reported signal quality values corresponding to the best Xbeam included in said received signal quality information. In someembodiments, the first quality indicator value is an average or meanquality value for the best Y narrow beam, and the second qualityindicator value is an average or mean quality value for the best X broadbeam. Step 1424 includes steps 1426, 1428, 1430 1432 and 1434.

In step 1426 the first communications device determines a differencebetween the first quality indicator value and the second qualityindicator value. Operation proceeds from step 1426 to step 1428. In step1428 the first communications device determines if the differencebetween the first quality indicator value and the second qualityindicator value is below a second threshold. If the determination ofstep 1428 is that the difference is not below the second threshold, thenoperation proceeds from step 1428 to step 1430 in which the firstcommunications device sets the preferred beam mode to narrow beam mode.However, if the determination of step 1428 is that the difference isbelow the second threshold, then operation proceeds from step 1428 tostep 1432.

In step 1432 the first communications device determines if the qualityvariance of the best beam in the set of X broad beams is less than athird threshold. If the determination of step 1432 is that the qualityvariance of the best beam in the set of X broad beams is not below thethird threshold, then operation proceeds from step 1432 to step 1430, inwhich the first communications device sets the preferred beam mode tonarrow beam mode. However, if the determination of step 1432 is that thequality variance of the best beam in the set of X broad beams is belowthe third threshold, then operation proceeds from step 1432 to step 1434in which the first communications device sets the preferred beam mode tobroad beam mode.

Operation proceeds from step 1419, via connecting node B 1436, to step1438 in which the first communications device makes a decision whetheror not to modify the preferred beam mode. In some but not allembodiments, step 1438 includes optional steps 1450, 1452, 1454, and1456. Step 1438 includes steps 1440, 1442, 1444 and 1446 which will bein addition to the optional steps when the optional steps are included.

In step 1450 the first communications device receives a request from thesecond communications device for a particular beam mode, said requestedbeam mode being one of a broad beam mode or a narrow beam mode, e.g.,based on second communications device applications or Quality of Service(QoS) needs. Many devices may not make such requests and may leave it upto the base station to make the mode and beam determinations.Accordingly, this step is optional. In some embodiments, step 1450includes step 1452 in which the first communications device receivesfrom the second communications device a requested beam indicatorindicating one of a broad beam mode or a narrow beam mode. The indicatoris a requested beam indicator because the mode and/or beam indicated inthe request may and often is viewed by the base station as a non-bindingrequest. However in some other embodiments the request may indicate awireless terminal determination which is binding on the base station.Operation proceeds from step 1450 to step 1454.

In step 1454 the first communications device determines if the secondcommunications device requested a beam mode other than the preferredbeam mode. As should be appreciated if the beam mode requested and thepreferred beam mode for the device is the same, the preferred beam modecan be left unchanged. If in step 1454 the first communications devicedetermines that the second communications device did not request adifferent beam mode than the preferred beam mode, then operationproceeds from step 1454, to step 1440. However, if in step 1454, thefirst communications device determines that the second communicationsdevice requested a beam mode which is different than the preferred beammode, then operation proceeds from step 1454 to step 1456. The mostcommon request for a different beam mode will be for a broad beam modewith the wireless terminal seeking the reliability of a broad beam for aparticular application as opposed to the higher throughput possibleusing a narrow beam which the base station might be inclined to selectto support a higher data throughput.

In step 1456, the first communications device determines if the use of abeam, e.g., broad beam. corresponding to the requested beam mode cansatisfy received power and/or QoS requirements of the secondcommunications device. If the first communications device determinesthat the use of a beam corresponding to the requested beam mode can notsatisfy received power and/or QoS requirements of the secondcommunications device, then operation proceeds from step 1456 to step1440. However, if the first communications device determines that theuse of a beam corresponding to the requested beam mode can satisfyreceived power and/or QoS requirements of the second communicationsdevice, then operation proceeds from step 1456 to step 1458. In step1458 the first communications device changes the preferred beam mode tothe requested beam mode and sets the preferred beam to the beam of therequested beam mode with the highest channel quality. This will ofteninvolve changing from a narrow beam mode to a requested broad beam modeand selecting the best broad beam for communicating with the secondcommunications device as the beam to use. Operation proceeds from step1458 to step 1440.

While a communications device request is sometimes taken intoconsideration, a device's preference maybe and sometimes are overruledby the base station, e.g., to support simultaneous communication withmultiple devices as opposed to just the second communications device.

In step 1440 the first communications device determines if there is abroad beam covering an area in which the second communication device islocated and a third communications device, e.g., UE 2 508 or UE 3 510,is located, said broad beam covering said area being a candidate beam.For example, determine if there is a candidate beam in the set ofsupported broad beams which covers an area in which the secondcommunications device and another communications device is located tosee if simultaneous transmissions to both devices can be supported usingthe candidate broad beam.

If the determination of step 1440 is that there is not a broad beamcovering an area in which the second communication device is located anda third communications device is located, then operation proceeds fromstep 1440 to step 1442, in which the first communications device leavesthe preferred beam mode and beam unchanged. However, if thedetermination of step 1440 is that there is a broad beam covering anarea in which the second communication device is located and a thirdcommunications device is located, then operation proceeds from step 1440to step 1444. In step 1444 the first communications device makes adecision as to whether to set the beam mode to broad beam mode and thepreferred beam to the candidate beam based on at least one of: trafficrequirements, where traffic requirements can and sometimes does includelatency requirements. for traffic to be transmitted to at least one ofthe second and third communications devices; ii) the amount of data tobe transmitted to the third communications device; and iii) the amountof data to be transmitted to the second communications device. Step 1442includes 1444 in which the first communications device decides to setthe beam mode to broad beam mode and the preferred beam to the candidatebeam based on one or more of: traffic requirements, e.g., QOS such aslatency, for traffic to be transmitted to at least one of the second andthird communications devices; ii) the amount of data to be transmittedto the third communications device; and iii) the amount of data to betransmitted to the second communications device.

Operation proceeds from step 1438 to step 1447 in which the preferredbeam and mode is communicated to the second communications device. Instep 1447 other devices may also be informed of a beam and/or mode whichwill be used to communicate with them, e.g., in parallel with thecommunication to the second communications device. The secondcommunications device receives the beam and mode information andconfigures its transceiver accordingly. Operation proceeds from step1447 to step 1448 in which the first communications device transmits,using a beam corresponding to the preferred beam mode, data, e.g., userdata such as voice, application data or other non-control channel data,to the second communications device using the preferred beam as a datacommunications channel. In embodiments where multiple devices aretransmitted to at the same time, optional step 1449 is performed inparallel with, or following step 1448. In step 1449 the firstcommunications device transmits to one or more additional devices, e.g.,UEs, using beams selected for communicating with the individualadditional devices or using the same beam used for communicating withthe second communications device. In this way one or more beams can beused to support communications with multiple devices during atransmission time interval.

The method shown in FIG. 14A can be repeated over and over again tosupport communication during different communications period for whichbeam and mode determinations are made, e.g., with the selection processbeing repeated in an attempt to make beam and mode selections which takeinto account changes in the environment, channel and/or effect ofcommunications device movement.

FIG. 15, comprising the combination of FIG. 15A, FIG. 15B and FIG. 15C,is a drawing of an assembly of components 1500, comprising thecombination of Part A 1501, Part B 1503 and Part C 1505, in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 15 is a drawing of an exemplaryassembly of components 1500, which may be included in a wirelesscommunications device, e.g., an access point or base station. Forexample, assembly of components is included in wireless communicationsdevice 400 of FIG. 4, e.g., an access point/base station. Assembly ofcomponents 1500 can be, and in some embodiments is, used in wirelesscommunications device 400 of FIG. 4, AP 500 of FIG. 5-10, a wirelesscommunications device implementing the method of FIGS. 11, 12 and 13,and/or the first communications device, e.g., a wireless communicationsdevice such as a base station or access point, implementing the methodof flowchart of flowchart 1400 of FIG. 14.

The components in the assembly of components 1500 can, and in someembodiments are, implemented fully in hardware within the processor 402,e.g., as individual circuits. The components in the assembly ofcomponents 1500 can, and in some embodiments are, implemented fully inhardware within the assembly of hardware components 466, e.g., asindividual circuits corresponding to the different components. In otherembodiments some of the components are implemented, e.g., as circuits,within the processor 402 with other components being implemented, e.g.,as circuits within assembly of hardware components 466, external to andcoupled to the processor 402. As should be appreciated the level ofintegration of components on the processor and/or with some componentsbeing external to the processor may be one of design choice.Alternatively, rather than being implemented as circuits, all or some ofthe components may be implemented in software and stored in the memory404 of the wireless communications device 400, with the componentscontrolling operation of wireless communications device 400 to implementthe functions corresponding to the components when the components areexecuted by a processor, e.g., processor 402. In some such embodiments,the assembly of components 1500 is included in the memory 404 asassembly of software components 464. In still other embodiments, variouscomponents in assembly of components 1500 are implemented as acombination of hardware and software, e.g., with another circuitexternal to the processor 402 providing input to the processor 402 whichthen under software control operates to perform a portion of acomponent's function. While processor 402 is shown in the FIG. 4embodiment as a single processor, e.g., computer, it should beappreciated that the processor 402 may be implemented as one or moreprocessors, e.g., computers.

When implemented in software the components include code, which whenexecuted by the processor 402, configure the processor 402 to implementthe function corresponding to the component. In embodiments where theassembly of components 1500 is stored in the memory 404, the memory 404is a computer program product comprising a computer readable mediumcomprising code, e.g., individual code for each component, for causingat least one computer, e.g., processor 402, to implement the functionsto which the components correspond.

Completely hardware based or completely software based components may beused. However, it should be appreciated that any combination of softwareand hardware, e.g., circuit implemented components may be used toimplement the functions. As should be appreciated, the componentsillustrated in FIG. 15 control and/or configure the wirelesscommunications device 400 or elements therein such as the processor 402,to perform the functions of corresponding steps illustrated and/ordescribed in the method of one or more of the flowcharts, signalingdiagrams and/or described with respect to any of the figures. Thus theassembly of components 1500 includes various components that performfunctions of corresponding one or more described and/or illustratedsteps of an exemplary method, e.g., steps of the method of theflowcharts 1100, 1200, and 1330 of FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, respectively,steps of the method of flowchart 1400 of FIG. 14 and/or described orshown with respect to any of the other figures.

Assembly of components 1500 includes a component 1504 configured toreceive, from a second communications device, signal quality informationfor a first period of time corresponding to beams transmitted by thefirst communications device, a component 1506 configured to identify aset of X broad beams having the best reported quality, said set of Xbroad beams including one or more broad beams, a component 1508configured to identify a set of Y narrow beams having the best reportedquality, said set of Y narrow beams including one or more narrow beams,a component 1510 configured to determine a quality variance for eachnarrow beam in the set of Y narrow beams for the first time period, anda component 1514 configured to determine a quality variance for eachbroad beam in the set of X broad beams for the first period of time.Component 1510 includes a component 1512 configured to determine a firstquality variance for the best Y narrow beam for the first period oftime. Component 1514 includes a component 1516 configured to determine aquality variance for the best X broad beam for the first period of time.

Assembly of components 1500 further includes a component 1519 configuredto determine a preferred beam mode based on at least the first qualityvariance, said preferred beam mode being one of a broad beam mode or anarrow beam mode, a component 1538 configured to make a decision whetheror not to modify the preferred beam mode, and a component 1548configured to transmit, using a beam corresponding to the preferred beammode, data to the second communications device.

Component 1519 includes a component 1520 configured to determine if thefirst quality variance is greater than a first threshold, a component1522 configured to set the preferred beam mode to narrow beam mode inresponse to determining that the first quality variance is not greaterthan said first threshold, and a component 1524 configured to determinethe preferred beam mode based on i) a first quality indicator value forthe best beam in said set of Y narrow beams, said first qualityindicator value generated from multiple reported signal quality valuescorresponding to the best beam in said set of Y in said received signalquality information; and ii) a second quality indicator value for thebest beam in said set of X broad beams, said second quality indicatorvalue generated from multiple reported signal quality valuescorresponding to the best beam in said set of X in said received signalquality information, said determining being in response to determiningthat the first quality variance is greater than said first threshold.Component 1524 includes a component 1526 configured to determine adifference between the first quality indicator value and the secondquality indicator value, a component 1528 configured to determine if thedifference between the first quality indicator value and the secondquality indicator value is below a second threshold, a component 1530configured to set the preferred beam mode to narrow beam mode inresponse to a determination that the difference is not below the secondthreshold, a component 1532 configured to determine if the qualityvariance of the best beam in the set of X broad beams is less than athird threshold, in response to determining that the difference is belowthe second threshold, a component 1553 configured to set the preferredbeam mode to narrow beam mode in response to a determination that thequality variance of the best beam in the set of X broad beams is notbelow the third threshold, and a component 1534 configured to set thepreferred beam mode to broad beam mode in response to a determinationthat the quality variance of the best beam in the set of X broad beamsis below the third threshold.

Component 1538 includes a component 1540 configured to determine ifthere is a broad beam covering an area in which the secondcommunications device is located and a third communications device islocated, said broad beam covering said area in which said secondcommunications device and said third communications device are locatedbeing a candidate beam, a component 1542 configured to leave thepreferred beam mode and beam unchanged in response to a determinationthat there is not a broad beam covering an area in which said secondcommunications device and a third communications device are located, anda component configured to make a decision as to whether to set the beammode to broad beam mode and the preferred beam to the candidate beambased on at least one of: i) traffic requirements for the traffic to betransmitted to at least one of the second and third communicationsdevices; ii) the amount of data to be transmitted to the thirdcommunications device; and iii) the amount of data to be transmitted tothe second communications device, said decision being made in responseto a determination that there is a broad beam covering an area in whichsaid second communications device and said third communications deviceare located. Component 1544 includes a component 1546 configured todecide to set the beam to the broad beam mode and the preferred beam tothe candidate beam based on one or more of: i) traffic requirements forthe traffic to be transmitted to at least one of the second and thirdcommunications devices; ii) the amount of data to be transmitted to thethird communications device; and iii) the amount of data to betransmitted to the second communications device.

In some embodiments, component 1538 includes a component 1550 configuredto receive a request from the second communications device for aparticular beam mode, said request beam mode being one of a broad beammode or a narrow beam mode, e.g. based on second communications deviceapplications or QoS needs. In some such embodiments, component 1550includes a component 1552 configured to receive a requested beam modeindicator from the second communications device, said requested beammode indicator indicating one of a broad beam mode or a narrow beammode. In various embodiments, component 1538 includes a component 1554configured to determine if the second communications requested a beammode other than the preferred beam mode and to control operation as afunction of the determination, a component 1556 configured to determineif use of a beam corresponding to the requested beam mode can satisfythe received power and/or QoS requirements of the second communicationsdevice and to control operation as a function of the determination, anda component 1558 configured to change the preferred beam mode to therequested beam mode and to set the preferred beam to the beam of therequested beam mode with the highest channel quality, e.g., in responseto determining that the use of a beam corresponding to the requestedbeam mode can satisfy the received power and/or QoS requirements of thesecond communications device.

FIG. 16, comprising the combination of FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B, is adrawing of exemplary data/information 1600, comprising the combinationof Part A 1601 and Part B 1603, which may be included in a wirelesscommunications device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.Data/information 1600 is, e.g., data/information 470 including in memory404 in wireless communications device 400, e.g., an access point/basestation of FIG. 4.

Data/information 1600 includes received beam quality information for aplurality of times (received beam quality information for time T0 1602,. . . , received beam quality information for time Tn 1604). Receivedbeam quality information for time T0 includes received beam qualityinformation from UE 1 1606, received beam quality information from UE 21608, . . . , received beam quality information from UE Z 1610. Receivedbeam quality information for time Tn includes received beam qualityinformation from UE 1 1612, received beam quality information from UE 21614, . . . , received beam quality information from UE Z 1616. Each setof received beam quality information, e.g., received beam qualityinformation from UE 1 1606 includes reported signal quality informationcorresponding to beams transmitted from the first communications device,e.g., AP 400, which were detected by the UE, e.g., UE 1. A set ofreceived beam quality information may, and sometimes does include beamquality information corresponding to one or more detected beams, and theone or more detected beams may include narrow beams and/or broad beams.

Data/information 1600 further includes an identified set of best narrowbeams for UE 1 1618 including an identified best narrow beam for UE 11620, an identified set of best broad beams for UE 1 1622 including anidentified best broad beam for UE 1 1624, an identified set of bestnarrow beams for UE 2 1626 including an identified best narrow beam forUE 2 1627, an identified set of best broad beams for UE 2 1628 includingan identified best broad beam for UE 2 1630, . . . , an identified setof best narrow beams for UE Z 1632 including an identified best narrowbeam for UE Z 1634, an identified set of best broad beams for UE Z 1636including an identified best broad beam for UE Z 1638.

Data/information 1600 further includes a determined quality variance forthe best narrow beam for UE 1 1640, a determined quality variance forthe best broad beam for UE 1 1642, a determined quality variance for thebest narrow beam for UE 2 1644, a determined quality variance for thebest broad beam for UE 2 1646, a determined quality variance for thebest narrow beam for UE Z 1648, a determined quality variance for thebest broad beam for UE Z 1650.

Data/information 1600 further includes a determined quality indicatorvalue, e.g., a mean quality value, for the best narrow beam for UE 11652, a determined quality indicator value, e.g., a mean quality value,for the best broad beam for UE 1 1654, a determined quality indicatorvalue, e.g., a mean quality value, for the best narrow beam for UE 21656, a determined quality indicator value, e.g., a mean quality value,for the best broad beam for UE 2 1658, . . . , a determined qualityindicator value, e.g., a mean quality value, for the best narrow beamfor UE Z 1660, a determined quality indicator value, e.g., a meanquality value, for the best broad beam for UE Z 1662.

Data information 1600 further includes a first threshold 1664, e.g.,first threshold of step 1420 or threshold_1 of step 1206, a secondthreshold 1666, e.g., second threshold of step 1428 or threshold_2 ofstep 1210, and a third threshold 1668, e.g., third threshold of step1432 or threshold_3 of step 1214.

Data/information 1600 further includes a determined preferred beam modefor UE 1 1670, a determined preferred beam for UE 1 1672, a determinedpreferred beam mode for UE 2 1674, a determined preferred beam for UE 21676, . . . , a determined preferred beam mode for UE Z 1678, and adetermined preferred beam for UE Z 1680.

Data/information 1600 further includes data to be transmitted to UE 11681, data to be transmitted to UE 2 1682, . . . , data to betransmitted to UE Z 1683, traffic requirements for traffic to betransmitted to UE 1 1684, an amount of data to be transmitted to UE 11685, traffic requirements for traffic to be transmitted to UE 2 1686,an amount of data to be transmitted to UE 2 1687, . . . , , trafficrequirements for traffic to be transmitted to UE Z 1688, and an amountof data to be transmitted to UE Z 1689.

Data/information 1600 further includes information identifying candidatebroad beams covering an area corresponding to multiple UE devices 1690.Data/information 1600 further includes a determined preferred beam modefor UE 1 following a potential modification decision 1691, a determinedpreferred beam for UE 1 following a potential modification decision1692, a determined preferred beam mode for UE 2 following a potentialmodification decision 1693, a determined preferred beam for UE 2following a potential modification decision 1694, . . . , a determinedpreferred beam mode for UE Z following a potential modification decision1695, and a determined preferred beam for UE Z following a potentialmodification decision 1696. Data/information 1600 further includes alist of beams to be used for transmission of traffic data to UEs 1697,and one or more generated beam signals, e.g., each generated beamcommunicating traffic data to one or more UEs, (generated beam 1 signals1698, generated beam M signals 1699).

In some embodiments, data/information 1600 includes received beam moderequest signals (received beam mode request signal from UE 1 1631including a received requested beam mode indicator for UE 1 1633,received beam mode request signal from UE 2 1637 including a receivedrequested beam mode indicator for UE 2 1639, . . . , received beam moderequest signal from UE Z 1643 including a received requested beam modeindicator for UE Z 1645. In some such embodiments, data/information 1600includes a UE 1 requested beam mode for UE 1 1635, a UE 2 requested beammode for UE 2 1641, . . . , a UE Z requested beam mode for UE Z 1647. Insome such embodiments, a requested beam mode is one of a broad beam modeor a narrow beam mode, e.g., with a UE basing its requested beam mode onUE applications and/or QoS needs of the UE.

FIG. 17 is a drawing 1700 illustrating an example in which wirelesscommunications device 400, e.g., AP 400, is in transmit mode asindicated by TRC signal 455=TX. Legend 1702 indicates that bold dottedline arrow 1704 indicates a beam 1 signal generation path, and bolddashed line 1706 indicates a beam M signal generation path. Table 1708indicates that selected beam 1 is a broad beam designated BB2 and thatselected beam M is a narrow beam designated NB4. Table 1710 indicatesthat AP 400 transmits traffic data to UE 1 and UE 2 on BB2, and that AP400 transmits traffic data to UE 3 on NB4. In one embodiment, AP 400 isAP 502 of FIG. 10, UE 1 is UE 1 506 of FIG. 10; UE 2 is UE 2 508 of FIG.10, and UE 3 is UE 3 510 of FIG. 10, and the beams have been selected byAP 400 in accordance with the method of FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 and/or FIG.14.

Various aspects and/or features of some embodiments of the invention aredescribed below. In millimeter wave systems, higher transmit power isaccomplished by a combination of the power output from the poweramplifier and coherent combining in ‘space’ by an antenna array (alsocalled array gain). As an example: say the output power from a singlepower amplifier is 10 dBm and there are 256 elements in the antennaarray, each element being attached to one PA. Then the total PA power is10 dBm+10*log 10(256)=34 dBm. In addition, the antenna array willprovide an ‘spatial combining’ or array gain of 10*log 10(256)=24 dB inthe peak direction. Total effective isotropic radiated power (eirp)becomes 58 dBm. Usually, each antenna element (like a microstrip patch)would provide additional spatial gain, called element gain, whosemaximum value would typically be around 5 dB. So the total output power(eirp) is viewed as 34+24+5=63 dBm.

A consequence of achieving this high output power via array gain is thatthe beam width over which energy is radiated is fairly narrow (unlikesub-6 GHz systems, where the beams are very wide). An approximatemeasure of half-power beam width is 2 divided by the number of elements,in radians. So, a 256 element array, organized as a 32×8 array will havea beamwidth of 2/32= 1/16th of a radian=3.6 degrees.

Such a narrow beam width makes the system quite sensitive to dynamics inthe environment and latency between best-beam measurement, reporting andapplication. Similarly, any kind of obstacle that blocks the narrow beamcould result in complete signal loss.

A system that allows using a broadened beam, lower eirp, for robustnesswhen needed and a narrow beam, higher eirp when needed is therefore,highly advantageous. This can realistically be feasible when the powerper PA is higher so that there is less reliance on the array gain andconsequently, the narrow beam to achieve high output power.

A novel feature of various embodiments of the present invention includesbroadening the data channel. Various aspects and/or features of someembodiments of the present invention are described below which relate tobeam broadening for data channels. Various embodiments may include one,more or all of the features discussed below.

An exemplary communication system includes broadened and non-broadenedcode books, e.g., a broad beam code book and a narrow beam code book. Insome embodiments, the broad beam code book and the narrow beam code bookis included in a single code book.

The user is notified that broadened and non-broadened beams, e.g., broadbeams and narrow beams, are available at the base station.

Best/ordered set broadened beam(s) and best non-broadened beam for eachuser is determined via beam sweep. This can be, and in some embodimentsis, done hierarchically with a broadened beam sweep and then doing anon-broadened beam sweep only ‘within’ the broadened beam.

The base station receives indication from the UE on groups of broadenedand non-broadened beams that may be received by the same UE receivesub-array or beam. This will allow the base station to dynamicallyschedule the UE on either the broadened or non-broadened beam withoutinforming the UE explicitly in advance.

Exemplary conditions which may, and sometimes do, trigger the basestation to broaden the beam:

-   -   i) Excess Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR). The base station may, and        sometimes does, adapt the modulation and coding schemes (MCS)        accordingly if the broadening has reduced the SNR;    -   ii) High mobility of the user (can be, and sometimes is,        determined by rate of beam changes);    -   iii) User in a high blocking/shadowing environment (can be, and        sometimes is, determined by sudden jumps in reported channel        quality indicator/Signal to Noise Ratio (CQI/SNR) by the user).        This can be, and sometimes is, partly based on historical        information;    -   iv) Need for multiplexing more than one user in a beam—e.g., due        to time+freq resource granularity being coarse;    -   v) Small amount of data to send (e.g. signaling data) or data        that needs more robustness;    -   vi) Reduce interference variation caused to a neighbor cell. UE        reports Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) and Reference        Signal Received Quality (RSRQ). If the base station finds that        the RSRP is steady but RSRQ fluctuates a lot, it can ascertain        that interference variations are strong and can, and sometimes        does, request neighbor cells to broaden beams (as one example);    -   vii) Exploit additional multipath addressable by a single        broadened beam to provide robustness to blockage. Advantage is        that a single panel at the base station, e.g. gNodeB (gNB), gets        used rather than multiple panels if the same functionality needs        to be achieved with narrow beams;    -   viii) In connected Discontinuous Reception (cDRX) mode to allow        the UE to sleep more effectively;    -   ix) Offer broadened beams for the purpose of tracking time/freq        (e.g. Tracking Reference Signal (TRS) signal used in 5G New        Radio (NR)) because maximum SNR is not needed in that case;        and/or    -   x) Broaden beam for TRS so that multiple users can use the same        TRS.

Similarly, the UE may, and in some embodiments, does also triggerbroadening the beam if it finds that:

-   -   i) Beam changes are frequent;    -   ii) Substantial degradation occurs before the beam change is        executed;    -   iii) For event based beam change request triggers, if the UE        finds that it is having to transmit too many uplink messages,        thus increasing active power consumption; and/or    -   iv) UE can request beam broadening from the gNB.

Indication from gNB that it is using a broadened beam. In the event whenthe UE has different sub-arrays picking up energy from differentclusters and the gNB broadened beam can excite those different clusters,it's important for the UE to receive beamform accordingly.

Receive side broadened beamforming can also be done, and in someembodiments is done, at the gNB to receive from multiple userssimultaneously in Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM) fashion. Thiscan be, and sometimes is, done to reduce packet latency.

One more or all of the above features can and sometimes are extended tomultibeam wherein the beam broadening results in more than onediscernable beam (larger angular separation than just broadening).

Various embodiments, in accordance with the present invention aredirected to method and apparatus of beam management.

Having described some features found in one or more embodiments, variousnumbered exemplary embodiments will be discussed.

Numbered List of Exemplary Method Embodiments

Method Embodiment 1 A method of operating a first communications device,the method comprising: receiving, from a second communications device,signal quality information for a first period of time corresponding tobeams transmitted by the first communications device; identifying a setof X broad beams having the best reported quality, said set of X beamsincluding one or more broad beams; identifying a set of Y narrow beamshaving the best reported quality, said set of Y beams including one ormore narrow beams; determining a first quality variance for the best Ybeam for the first period of time (in some embodiments determine qualityvariance for each beam in Y set of beams); and determining a preferredbeam mode based on at least the first quality variance, said preferredbeam mode being one of a broad beam mode or a narrow beam mode.

Method embodiment 1A. The method of Method Embodiment 1, furthercomprising: transmitting (1448), using a beam corresponding to thepreferred beam mode, data to the second communications device.

Method Embodiment 2 The method of Method Embodiment 1, furthercomprising: transmitting, using a beam corresponding to the preferredbeam mode, data to the second communications device.

Method Embodiment 3 The method of Method Embodiment 1, whereindetermining the preferred beam mode includes: determining if the firstquality variance (best Y narrow beam quality variance) is greater than afirst threshold; and setting the preferred beam mode to narrow beam modewhen it is determined that the first quality variance is not greaterthan (i.e., is less than) the first threshold (if variance in bestnarrow beam is small its reliable and thus will be used, if thepreferred beam decision is not overruled, to support simultaneous (fdm)transmissions to multiple devices). In some embodiments the firstquality variance is measured based on the number of beam changes thathappen within the narrow beam mode. For example if the UE is constantlychanging the beam in the narrow beam mode, that could also be considereda first quality variance.

Method Embodiment 4 The method of Method Embodiment 3, where said firstquality variance is for a time period of 5 milliseconds or less (and insome embodiments 1 millisecond or less) (in millimeter wavelengthcommunications there may be 8 transmission slots per millisecond).

Method Embodiment 5 The method of Method Embodiment 3, when it isdetermined that the first quality variance is greater than the firstthreshold said step determining a preferred beam mode is further basedon: i) a first quality indicator value for the best beam in said set ofY narrow beams (e.g., average or mean quality value for best of Y narrowbeams), said first quality indicator value generated from multiplereported signal quality values, corresponding to the best Y beam,included in said received signal quality information; and ii) a secondquality indicator value for the best beam in said set of X broad beams(e.g., average or mean quality value for best of X broad beams), saidsecond quality indicator value generated from multiple reported signalquality values, corresponding to the best X beam, included in saidreceived signal quality information.

Method Embodiment 6 The method of Method Embodiment 5, furthercomprising when it is determined that the first quality variance isgreater than the first threshold, determining a difference between thefirst quality indicator value (Y narrow beam) and the second qualityindicator value (X broad); determining if the difference is below asecond threshold; and setting the preferred beam mode to narrow beammode when it is determined that difference is not below the secondthreshold.

Method Embodiment 7 The method of Method Embodiment 6, furthercomprising; when said difference is below the second threshold,determining if the quality variance of the best beam in the set of Xbroad beams is below a third threshold; and in response to determiningthat the quality variance of the best beam in the set of X broad beamsis below the third threshold setting the preferred beam mode to broadbeam mode; and otherwise setting the preferred beam mode to narrow beammode.

Method Embodiment 8 The method of Method Embodiment 3, furthercomprising, prior to transmitting, using the beam corresponding to thepreferred beam mode, data to the second communications device, making adecision whether or not to modify the preferred beam mode, the methodcomprising: determining if there is a broad beam covering an area inwhich the second communications device is located and a thirdcommunications device is located, said broad beam covering said areabeing a candidate beam (e.g., determine if there is a candidate beam inthe set of supported broad beams which covers an area in which thesecond device and another device are located to see if simultaneoustransmission to both devices can be supported using the candidate broadbeam); if it is determined that there is no broad beam covering an areain which the second communications device is located and a thirdcommunications device is located leaving the preferred beam mode andbeam unchanged; and if it is determined that there is a broad beamcovering an area in which the second communications device is locatedand a third communications device is located, the method furthercomprising: making a decision as to whether to set the beam mode tobroad beam mode and the preferred beam to the candidate beam based onone or more of: i) traffic requirements for traffic to be transmitted toat least one of the second and third communications devices; ii) theamount of data to be transmitted to the third communications device andiii) the amount of data to be transmitted to the second communicationsdevice. It should be appreciated that the coverage area may be andsometimes is affected by reflections or obstructions and that twodevices may be close, if one receives a reflected signal from a beam andthe other a direct signal, even though they are not physically thatclose.

Method Embodiment 9 The method of Method Embodiment 8, wherein makingthe decision as to whether to set the beam mode to broad beam mode andthe preferred beam to the candidate beam includes: deciding to set thebeam mode to broad beam mode and the preferred beam to the candidatebeam based on one or more of: traffic requirements (QOS such as latency)for traffic to be transmitted to at least one of the second and thirdcommunications devices; ii) the amount of data to be transmitted to thethird communications device and iii) the amount of data to betransmitted to the second communications device.

Method Embodiment 10 The method of Method Embodiment 1, furthercomprising: receiving from the second communications device a requestfor a particular beam mode, said requested beam mode being one of abroad beam mode or a narrow beam mode; and determining if the preferredbeam mode indicates a beam mode which is different from the requestedbeam mode; changing the preferred beam mode to the requested beam modewhen the use of a beam corresponding to the requested beam mode willsatisfy power or QoS requirements of the second communications device.

Method Embodiment 11 The method of Method Embodiment 10, wherein,receiving from the second communications device a request for aparticular beam mode includes: receiving from the second communicationsdevice a requested beam mode indicator indicating one of a broad beammode and a narrow beam mode.

Numbered List of Exemplary Apparatus Embodiments

Apparatus Embodiment 1 A first communications device (400), comprising:an antenna array (406) including antenna elements (452, 454); receivercircuitry (442, 442′) coupled to said antenna elements (452, 454), saidreceiver circuitry (442, 442′) being configured to receive, signalquality information from a second communications device, for a firstperiod of time corresponding to beams transmitted by the firstcommunications device; a processor (402) configured to: i) identify aset of X broad beams having the best reported quality, said set of Xbeams including one or more broad beams; ii) identify a set of Y narrowbeams having the best reported quality, said set of Y beams includingone or more narrow beams; iii) determine a first quality variance forthe best Y beam for the first period of time (in some embodimentsdetermine quality variance for each beam in Y set of beams); and iv)determine a preferred beam mode based on at least the first qualityvariance, said preferred beam mode being one of a broad beam mode or anarrow beam mode; and transmitter circuitry (444, 444′) coupled to saidantenna elements (452, 454), said transmitter circuitry (444, 444′)configured to transmit information indicating the preferred beam modeand beam to the second communications device.

Apparatus Embodiment 2 The first communications device (400) ofApparatus Embodiment 1, wherein the processor is configured, as part ofdetermining the preferred beam mode to: determine if the first qualityvariance (best Y narrow beam quality variance) is greater than a firstthreshold; and set the preferred beam mode to narrow beam mode when itis determined that the first quality variance is not greater than (i.e.,is less than) the first threshold (if variance in best narrow beam issmall its reliable and thus will be used, if the preferred beam decisionis not overruled, to support simultaneous (frequency divisionmultiplexing (fdm)) transmissions to multiple devices).

Apparatus Embodiment 3 The first communications device (400) ofApparatus Embodiment 2, where said first quality variance is for a timeperiod of 5 milliseconds or less (and in some embodiments 1 millisecondor less) (in millimeter wavelength communications there may be 8transmission slots per millisecond).

Apparatus Embodiment 4 The first communications device (400) ofApparatus Embodiment 2, when it is determined that the first qualityvariance is greater than the first threshold said step determining apreferred beam mode is further based on: i) a first quality indicatorvalue for the best beam in said set of Y narrow beams (e.g., average ormean quality value for best of Y narrow beams), said first qualityindicator value generated from multiple reported signal quality values,corresponding to the best y beam, included in said received signalquality information; and ii) a second quality indicator value for thebest beam in said set of X broad beams (e.g., average or mean qualityvalue for best of X broad beams), said second quality indicator valuegenerated from multiple reported signal quality values, corresponding tothe best X beam, included in said received signal quality information.

Apparatus Embodiment 5 The first communications device (400) ofApparatus Embodiment 4, wherein the processor (402) is furtherconfigured, when it is determined that the first quality variance isgreater than the first threshold, to: determine a difference between thefirst quality indicator value (Y narrow beam) and the second qualityindicator value (X broad beam); determine if the difference is below asecond threshold; and set the preferred beam mode to narrow beam modewhen it is determined that difference is not below the second threshold.

Apparatus Embodiment 6 The first communications device (400) ofApparatus Embodiment 5, wherein the processor (402) is furtherconfigured, when it is determined that the first quality variance isgreater than the first threshold and below the second threshold, to:determine if the quality variance of the best beam in the set of X broadbeams is below a third threshold; and in response to determining thatthe quality variance of the best beam in the set of X broad beams isbelow the third threshold setting the preferred beam mode to broad beammode; and otherwise setting the preferred beam mode to narrow beam mode.

Apparatus Embodiment 7 The first communications device (400) ofApparatus Embodiment 2, wherein the processor is further configured to,prior to transmission of the preferred beam mode to the second device:make a decision whether or not to modify the preferred beam mode priorto transmitting of the preferred beam mode to the second communicationsdevice, said making of a decision including: determining if there is abroad beam covering an area in which the second communications device islocated and a third communications device is located, said broad beamcovering said area being a candidate beam (e.g., determine if there is acandidate beam in the set of supported broad beams which covers an areain which the second device and another device is located to see ifsimultaneous transmission to both devices can be supported using thecandidate broad beam); if it is determined that there is no broad beamcovering an area in which the second communications device is locatedand a third communications device is located leaving the preferred beammode and beam unchanged; and if it is determined that there is a broadbeam covering an area in which the second communications device islocated and a third communications device is located, the method furthercomprising: making a decision as to whether to set the beam mode tobroad beam mode and the preferred beam to the candidate beam based onone or more of: i) traffic requirements for traffic to be transmitted toat least one of the second and third communications devices; ii) theamount of data to be transmitted to the third communications device andiii) the amount of data to be transmitted to the second communicationsdevice.

Apparatus Embodiment 8 The first communications device (400) ofApparatus Embodiment 7, wherein making the decision as to whether to setthe beam mode to broad beam mode and the preferred beam to the candidatebeam includes: deciding to set the beam mode to broad beam mode and thepreferred beam to the candidate beam based on one or more of trafficrequirements (QOS such as latency) for traffic to be transmitted to atleast one of the second and third communications devices; ii) the amountof data to be transmitted to the third communications device and

-   -   iii) the amount of data to be transmitted to the second        communications device.

Apparatus Embodiment 9 The first communications device (400) ofApparatus Embodiment 1, wherein said receiver circuitry (442, 442′) isfurther configured to receive from the second communications device arequest for a particular beam mode, said requested beam mode being oneof a broad beam mode or a narrow beam mode; and wherein the processor(402) is further configured to: determine if the preferred beam modeindicates a beam mode which is different from the requested beam mode;and change the preferred beam mode to the requested beam mode when theuse of a beam corresponding to the requested beam mode will satisfypower or QoS requirements of the second communications device.

Apparatus Embodiment 10 The first communications device (400) ofApparatus Embodiment 9, wherein said receiver circuitry (442, 442′) isfurther configured to receive from the second communications device arequested beam mode indicator indicating one of a broad beam mode and anarrow beam mode, as part of being configured to receive from the secondcommunications device a request for a particular beam mode.

Number List of Exemplary Computer Readable Medium Embodiments:

Computer Readable Medium Embodiment 1 A computer readable mediumincluding processor executable instructions which when executed by aprocessor in a first communications device, control the firstcommunications device to: receive (1404), from a second communicationsdevice, signal quality information for a first period of timecorresponding to beams transmitted by the first communications device;identify (1406) a set of X broad beams having the best reported quality,said set of X beams including one or more broad beams; identify (1408) aset of Y narrow beams having the best reported quality, said set of Ybeams including one or more narrow beams; determine (1412) a firstquality variance for the best Y beam for the first period of time (insome embodiments determine quality variance for each beam in Y set ofbeams); and determine (1419) a preferred beam mode based on at least thefirst quality variance, said preferred beam mode being one of a broadbeam mode or a narrow beam mode.

While features used in some but not all embodiments have been describedin terms of altering an initial preferred narrow beam selection to abroad beam mode of operation and broad beam selection, the methods canbe used to choose a different narrow beam than the beam initiallyselected as a preferred beam when a narrow mode of communication is tobe used and/or selecting a beam other than the beam with the bestchannel quality to a device when a broad beam mode of operation isdetermined to be used. From the perspective of an individual device thismay appear as a suboptimal selection of a beam mode and/or beam from anoverall system throughput or QoS perspective it can be desirable sincethe needs of multiple devices may be satisfied by the switch in beammode and/or beam selection.

In the present application base stations are to be understood asincluding access points while wireless terminals will be used to referto devices which interact with base stations, e.g., UE devices whichinteract with access points, e.g., WiFi STAs (stations). Wirelessterminals such as UEs can be, for example, cell phones, tablets, mobileor stationary customer premises equipment. A communications device canbe either base stations or wireless terminals.

The techniques of various embodiments may be implemented using software,hardware and/or a combination of software and hardware. Variousembodiments are directed to apparatus and/or systems, e.g., wirelesscommunications systems, wireless terminals, user equipment (UE) devices,access points, e.g., a WiFi wireless access point, a cellular wirelessAP, e.g., an eNB or gNB, user equipment (UE) devices, a wirelesscellular systems, e.g., a cellular system, WiFi networks, etc. Variousembodiments are also directed to methods, e.g., method of controllingand/or operating a system or device, e.g., a communications system, anaccess point, a base station, a wireless terminal, a UE device, etc.Various embodiments are also directed to machine, e.g., computer,readable medium, e.g., ROM, RAM, CDs, hard discs, etc., which includemachine readable instructions for controlling a machine to implement oneor more steps of a method. The computer readable medium is, e.g.,non-transitory computer readable medium.

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in theprocesses and methods disclosed is an example of exemplary approaches.Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific orderor hierarchy of steps in the processes and methods may be rearrangedwhile remaining within the scope of the present disclosure. Theaccompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in asample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order orhierarchy presented. In some embodiments, one or more processors areused to carry out one or more steps of the each of the describedmethods.

In various embodiments each of the steps or elements of a method areimplemented using one or more processors. In some embodiments, each ofelements or steps are implemented using hardware circuitry.

In various embodiments nodes and/or elements described herein areimplemented using one or more components to perform the stepscorresponding to one or more methods, for example, controlling,establishing, generating a message, message reception, signalprocessing, sending, communicating, e.g., receiving and transmitting,comparing, making a decision, selecting, making a determination,modifying, controlling determining and/or transmission steps. Thus, insome embodiments various features are implemented using components or insome embodiments logic such as for example logic circuits. Suchcomponents may be implemented using software, hardware or a combinationof software and hardware. Many of the above described methods or methodsteps can be implemented using machine executable instructions, such assoftware, included in a machine readable medium such as a memory device,e.g., RAM, floppy disk, etc. to control a machine, e.g., general purposecomputer with or without additional hardware, to implement all orportions of the above described methods, e.g., in one or more nodes.Accordingly, among other things, various embodiments are directed to amachine-readable medium, e.g., a non-transitory computer readablemedium, including machine executable instructions for causing a machine,e.g., processor and associated hardware, to perform one or more of thesteps of the above-described method(s). Some embodiments are directed toa device, e.g., a wireless communications device including amulti-element antenna array supporting beam forming, such as a cellularAP or Wifi AP, a wireless terminal, a UE device, etc., including aprocessor configured to implement one, multiple or all of the steps ofone or more methods of the invention.

In some embodiments, the processor or processors, e.g., CPUs, of one ormore devices, are configured to perform the steps of the methodsdescribed as being performed by the devices, e.g., communication nodes.The configuration of the processor may be achieved by using one or morecomponents, e.g., software components, to control processorconfiguration and/or by including hardware in the processor, e.g.,hardware components, to perform the recited steps and/or controlprocessor configuration. Accordingly, some but not all embodiments aredirected to a device, e.g., access point, with a processor whichincludes a component corresponding to each of the steps of the variousdescribed methods performed by the device in which the processor isincluded. In some but not all embodiments a device, e.g., wirelesscommunications node such as an access point or base station, includes acomponent corresponding to each of the steps of the various describedmethods performed by the device in which the processor is included. Thecomponents may be implemented using software and/or hardware.

Some embodiments are directed to a computer program product comprising acomputer-readable medium, e.g., a non-transitory computer-readablemedium, comprising code for causing a computer, or multiple computers,to implement various functions, steps, acts and/or operations, e.g. oneor more steps described above. Depending on the embodiment, the computerprogram product can, and sometimes does, include different code for eachstep to be performed. Thus, the computer program product may, andsometimes does, include code for each individual step of a method, e.g.,a method of controlling a wireless communications device such as anaccess point. The code may be in the form of machine, e.g., computer,executable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium, e.g., anon-transitory computer-readable medium, such as a RAM (Random AccessMemory), ROM (Read Only Memory) or other type of storage device. Inaddition to being directed to a computer program product, someembodiments are directed to a processor configured to implement one ormore of the various functions, steps, acts and/or operations of one ormore methods described above. Accordingly, some embodiments are directedto a processor, e.g., CPU, configured to implement some or all of thesteps of the methods described herein. The processor may be for use in,e.g., a wireless communications device such as an access point describedin the present application.

Numerous additional variations on the methods and apparatus of thevarious embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled inthe art in view of the above description. Such variations are to beconsidered within the scope. Numerous additional embodiments, within thescope of the present invention, will be apparent to those of ordinaryskill in the art in view of the above description and the claims whichfollow. Such variations are to be considered within the scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of operating a first communicationsdevice, the method comprising; receiving, from a second communicationsdevice, signal quality information for a first period of timecorresponding to beams transmitted by the first communications device;identifying a set of Y narrow beams having the best reported quality,said set of Y beams including one or more narrow beams; determining afirst quality variance for the best Y beam for the first period of time;and determining a preferred beam mode based on at least the firstquality variance, said preferred beam mode being one of a broad beammode or a narrow beam mode.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereindetermining the preferred beam mode includes: determining if the firstquality variance is greater than a first threshold; and setting thepreferred beam mode to narrow beam mode when it is determined that thefirst quality variance is not greater than the first threshold.
 3. Themethod of claim 2, where said first quality variance is for a timeperiod of 5 milliseconds or less.
 4. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising: making a decision whether or not to modify the preferredbeam mode, prior to transmitting, using the beam corresponding to thepreferred beam mode, data to the second communications device.
 5. Themethod of claim 2 further comprising: determining if there is a broadbeam covering an area in which the second communications device islocated and a third communications device is located, said broad beamcovering said area being a candidate beam; if it is determined thatthere is no broad beam covering an area in which the secondcommunications device is located and a third communications device islocated leaving the preferred beam mode and beam unchanged.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, further comprising: making, in response todetermining that there is a broad beam covering an area in which thesecond communications device is located and a third communicationsdevice is located, a decision as to whether to set the beam mode tobroad beam mode and the preferred beam to the candidate beam based onone or more of: i) traffic requirements for traffic to be transmitted toat least one of the second and third communications devices; ii) theamount of data to be transmitted to the third communications device andiii) the amount of data to be transmitted to the second communicationsdevice.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein making the decision as towhether to set the beam mode to broad beam mode and the preferred beamto the candidate beam includes: deciding to set the beam mode to broadbeam mode and the preferred beam to the candidate beam based on one ormore of: traffic requirements for traffic to be transmitted to at leastone of the second and third communications devices; ii) the amount ofdata to be transmitted to the third communications device and iii) theamount of data to be transmitted to the second communications device. 8.The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving from the secondcommunications device a request for a particular beam mode, saidrequested beam mode being one of a broad beam mode or a narrow beammode.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: determining if thepreferred beam mode indicates a beam mode which is different from therequested beam mode; and changing the preferred beam mode to therequested beam mode when the use of a beam corresponding to therequested beam mode will satisfy power or QoS requirements of the secondcommunications device.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein, receivingfrom the second communications device a request for a particular beammode includes: receiving from the second communications device arequested beam mode indicator indicating one of a broad beam mode and anarrow beam mode.
 11. A first communications device, comprising: anantenna array including antenna elements; receiver circuitry coupled tosaid antenna elements, said receiver circuitry being configured toreceive, signal quality information from a second communications device,for a first period of time corresponding to beams transmitted by thefirst communications device; a processor configured to: i) identify aset of Y narrow beams having the best reported quality, said set of Ybeams including one or more narrow beams; ii) determine a first qualityvariance for the best Y beam for the first period of time; and iii)determine a preferred beam mode based on at least the first qualityvariance, said preferred beam mode being one of a broad beam mode or anarrow beam mode; and transmitter circuitry coupled to said antennaelements, said transmitter circuitry configured to transmit informationindicating the preferred beam mode and beam to the second communicationsdevice.
 12. The first communications device of claim 11, wherein theprocessor is configured, as part of determining the preferred beam modeto: determine if the first quality variance is greater than a firstthreshold; and set the preferred beam mode to narrow beam mode when itis determined that the first quality variance is not greater than thefirst threshold.
 13. The first communications device of claim 12, wheresaid first quality variance is for a time period of 5 milliseconds orless.
 14. The first communications device of claim 12, wherein theprocessor is further configured to: make a decision whether or not tomodify the preferred beam mode prior to transmitting of the preferredbeam mode to the second communications device
 15. The firstcommunications device of claim 12, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to: determine, prior to transmitting of the preferred beammode to the second communications device, if there is a broad beamcovering an area in which the second communications device is locatedand a third communications device is located, said broad beam coveringsaid area being a candidate beam.
 16. The first communications device ofclaim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to control thefirst communications device to: leave the preferred beam mode and beamunchanged when it is determined that there is no broad beam covering anarea in which the second communications device is located and a thirdcommunications device is located.
 17. The method of claim 16, whereinthe processor is further configured to control the first communicationsdevice to: make a decision as to whether to set the beam mode to broadbeam mode and the preferred beam to the candidate beam based on one ormore of: i) traffic requirements for traffic to be transmitted to atleast one of the second and third communications devices; ii) the amountof data to be transmitted to the third communications device and iii)the amount of data to be transmitted to the second communicationsdevice, when it is determined that there is a broad beam covering anarea in which the second communications device is located and a thirdcommunications device is located.
 18. The first communications device ofclaim 17, wherein making the decision as to whether to set the beam modeto broad beam mode and the preferred beam to the candidate beamincludes: deciding to set the beam mode to broad beam mode and thepreferred beam to the candidate beam based on one or more of: trafficrequirements for traffic to be transmitted to at least one of the secondand third communications devices; ii) the amount of data to betransmitted to the third communications device and iii) the amount ofdata to be transmitted to the second communications device.
 19. Thefirst communications device of claim 11, wherein said receiver circuitryis further configured to receive from the second communications device arequest for a particular beam mode, said requested beam mode being oneof a broad beam mode or a narrow beam mode; and wherein the processor isfurther configured to: determine if the preferred beam mode indicates abeam mode which is different from the requested beam mode; and changethe preferred beam mode to the requested beam mode when the use of abeam corresponding to the requested beam mode will satisfy power or QoSrequirements of the second communications device.
 20. A computerreadable medium including processor executable instructions which whenexecuted by a processor in a first communications device, control thefirst communications device to: receive, from a second communicationsdevice, signal quality information for a first period of timecorresponding to beams transmitted by the first communications device;identify a set of X broad beams having the best reported quality, saidset of X beams including one or more broad beams; identify a set of Ynarrow beams having the best reported quality, said set of Y beamsincluding one or more narrow beams; determine a first quality variancefor the best Y beam for the first period of time; and determine apreferred beam mode based on at least the first quality variance, saidpreferred beam mode being one of a broad beam mode or a narrow beammode.